😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $1,114 in Serpukhov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,773 in Serpukhov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $2,432 in Serpukhov.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 112% more expensive than Serpukhov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Serpukhov is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.25
$12.77₽940
37.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€59.4
$56.9₽4,189
20.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.19
$6.38₽470
120.38%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.28₽242
-15.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.43
$1.43₽105
95.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.79
$0.64₽47.11
221.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.87
$1.42₽104
214.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€4.00
$4.45₽328
3.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$1.34₽98.4
-7.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.76
$0.89₽65.4
128.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.67
$1.71₽126
12.28%
Eggs
$3.31€2.87
$1.55₽114
113.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.99
$13.17₽970
39.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.23
$4.52₽333
109.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.62
$12.23₽901
56.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.29
$1.95₽144
35.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.12
$2.09₽154
17.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$2.28₽168
-7.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.47
$4.13₽304
-30.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.77
$0.99₽73.1
106.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$0.80₽59.0
131.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.28
$1.69₽125
-13.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.80₽58.6
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.20
$3.14₽231
127.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.84
$6.82₽502
15.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$0.87₽63.8
58.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€2.00
$2.33₽171
-0.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.59
$0.49₽36.30
508.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.99
$2.58₽190
78.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.79
$0.44₽32.66
370.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.31
$6.36₽468
358.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.60
$0.75₽54.9
145.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.8K
$37.9K₽2.8M
2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.4K
$36.0K₽2.7M
-9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€163
$153₽11.3K
22.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.90
$7.86₽579
191.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.85
$8.10₽597
353.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.77
$35.77₽2,634
60.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.71
$6.51₽480
71.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€625
$330₽24.3K
118.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€13.1K
$6,901₽508.2K
117.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.8
$86.4₽6,363
-0.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€32.16
$52.6₽3,875
-29.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.5
$135₽9,920
-24.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$160₽11.8K
-27.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,330
$439₽32.4K
249.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,059
$302₽22.2K
304.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,338
$753₽55.5K
257.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,746
$503₽37.0K
300.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,264
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,501
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Serpukhov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,047
$1,243₽91.5K
89.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10.5
-67.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Serpukhov: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $439 in Serpukhov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 90% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $57.0 in Serpukhov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $230 per month, with Serpukhov cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Serpukhov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Barcelona and Serpukhov differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,114 including rent). Serpukhov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Serpukhov?
Barcelona pays 90% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $439 in Serpukhov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $330 in Serpukhov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Serpukhov – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,114 in Serpukhov versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Serpukhov but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Serpukhov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Serpukhov?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Serpukhov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Serpukhov are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Serpukhov?
Expats usually find Serpukhov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.